When we lost our oak tree
this past spring, it very literally left an empty space in our yard and left me
with a broken heart. It also left me
with the beginning of an opportunity to learn about just how lucky an acorn was
that it would grow into an actual tree. Like baby alligators that have a 1%
survival rate in the wild, the little acorn embarks on a long and hazardous
journey when it drops to the ground.
It might find itself under a
litter of leaves, or perhaps it has found shelter in a hollowed out, fallen
log. Or, if it is very lucky, perhaps it
has fallen in a garden. If it survives
being food for woodland creatures, it tucks in and busily sends out embryonic
roots into the soil to anchor the plant.
Then the search for water begins.
All through its first winter, this root holds the acorn in place in its
safe ground.
In the spring, the moisture of
the ground will swell the root and crack open the acorn shell. It is in this first spring that the future
oak’s first shoot erupts to the surface.
The root continues to provide food for the seedlings for longs months,
even after the first true leaves are developed.
When the seedling is strong enough to survive on its own, the embryonic
roots will fall away.
It can take 20-30 years for an
oak to produce its first acorns but in the early years, production is not
consistent. With maturity, the tree
finally settles into regular production with the acorns dropping in the
fall. At 10 years an oak will be
anywhere from 10 – 20 feet depending on its location, food reliability and
sufficiency of sunlight.
Our tree, before it was lost to lightning, ground termites, and a
35mph gust of wind, was about 35 feet high.
It was a mature tree when Don walked passed it, on the way to school 60
plus years ago. It was one of the determining factors in buying our house in
2017 and for a short period of time, we enjoyed its sheltering branches.
Oak trees develop all over the world and even though they may vary
widely in appearance, they have one thing in common – the humble acorn. In the Midwest, it is difficult for oak
seedlings to mature. Competition from
invasive plants like buckthorn crowd them out and block the sunlight. So, it is indeed the lucky acorn that finds
purchase in a garden and is recognized as a winter survivor ready to be
protected as it grows into a mighty oak providing food and homes for birds and
squirrels and shade for the humans that nurtured them.
wow, I did not know most of this. no wonder you were heartbroken. Will you plant aomething else there? I felt the sme way when we lost our huge Maple tree out front.
ReplyDeleteProbably not, Ginny. The stump and root system is huge. Taking it out would likely damage utilities underground. It think I'll eventually use it as a feeding station for birds and critters.
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